Captive batting ball



Sept. 6, 1966 T. H. MUELLER CAPTIVE BATTING BALL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1965 INVENTOK THEODORE HMUELLEE AT TO ENE VS p 6, 1966 T. H. MUELLER 3,271,030

CAP'IIVE BATTING BALL Filed April 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet i I 91, z

United States Patent Office Patented Sept. 6, 1966 3,271,030 CAPTIVE BATTING BALL Theodore H. Mueller, 312 Gaines Ave., Mobile, Ala. Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 452,452 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-26) This is a continuation-in-part of my previously filed patent application Serial No. 324,033, filed November 15, 1963, and entitled Captive Batting Ball, said application being now abandoned.

This invention relates to a practice device for simulating the batting of a baseball, and finds utility both in the provision of recreation and bodily exercise, and in the improvement of batting skill through practice. Devices of this general nature have been proposed heretofore, from time to time, but, in general, have been attended with certain shortcomings which militated against their acceptance by the using public, and it is a general object of the present invention to minimize such shortcomings.

As one instance, a form of device frequently proposed consists of a tethered ball, captive on a relatively short radius. The true batting of a ball involves the imparting of a considerable kinetic energy by percussive impact, and where this is communicated to a tethered ball on a flexible line, extreme difiiculties are almost unavoidable. For instance, if the line be long, the behavior will be erratic and largely unpredictable, with resultant hazard to bystanders, if not to the batter himself. On the other hand, if the line be short, the centrifugal forces are excessive, thus introducing another hazard. Even if the line is anchored, so as to result in windup, the hazards persist, due to the conservation of angular momentum. Furthermore, both the rotative type and the wind-up type are unduly time consuming as to the interval between battings.

It is therefore another general object of the invention to provide a tethered ball in which centrifugal forces are minimized.

A further object is to provide a non-rotative tether System, of minimized angular excursion.

Yet another object is to provide a captive batting ball in a system of low mass, and a related object is to provide such a system in which resistance to motion arises from aero-dynamic features of construction.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a ball in the form of a hemispherical shell, carried on a resilient strap, with low flexural modulus, fixed on a standard against rotation thereabout.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a captive batting ball system in which a simulated ball is carried on a flexible arm which is actually rotatable on a standard.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, certain preferred forms of which are described in the following specification, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a baseball player in the act of batting a practice device according to the present invention, with subsequent positions of the bat and ball shown in dash lines.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the practice device of FIGURE 1, foreshortened, and showing a vertical ground section.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through the simulated ball and its radial holding arm, said view being taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing a baseball player in the act of batting a modified form of practice device according to the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the practice device of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of the practice device of FIG- URES 4 and 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a rear elevational view of the practice device of FIGURES 4 to 7 with the standard sections reversed so that the device will perform in the same manner as the modification illustrated in FIGURES l to 3.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view taken through the intermediate portion of a modified form of batting practice device according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, there is shown a tubular standard 10, supported on a ground plate 12, anchored in the ground 14 by means of spikes 16, two or more in number. The upright 10, which may be ordinary pipe, is conveniently made up of two sections 18 and 20, connected by a threaded coupling sleeve 22, and plate 12 has a central, threaded, tubular boss 24, receiving the lower end of lower section 18. A generally spherical, rubber or plastic cap 26 has a cylindrical recess for reception on the top end of pipe section 20, and serves to keep out water, as well as to provide ornamentation.

The simulated ball 28 is integral with a ribbon-like, radial arm 30, which is securely clamped on standard 10, but is adjustable thereon, both in azimuth and in height. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 3, the arm 30, which is of a width roughly about one-third the diameter of the ball, is, for the greater part of its length, of a thickness about the same as that of the ball, which is in the form of a hollow, hemispherical shell. At its inner end, the arm 30 has a thickened portion 32 which is looped around the upper pipe section 20, being secured thereto by a hose clamp 34, which is threaded through a slot 36, running laterally of arm 30, in thickened portion 32.

In use, the tether arm 30 in located on the standard at a convenient height for the player, the plate 12 being so located that the ball 28 will not only lie along a path in the strike zone, but at a position with respect to home plate 38 representing optimum point of impact with bat 40. From the standpoint of the player, the ball is visually equivalent to a regular sphere. However, being a mere shell, it will not generate any appreciable degree of kinetic energy, and therefore will not constitute a danger, or a nuisance. However, in normal play, there is an impact involved in reversing the momentum of the ball, and this circumstance is simulated, in some degree, by the cupform of the ball, which provides increased aerodynamic resistance to its movement. Thus, it is qualitatively equivalent to a normal ball in providing resistance to acceleration, but is distinctly opposite thereto after the cessation of the batting force, by reason of immediate deceleration, due to the same aerodynamic resistance on the open cup, and also to buildup of potential energy in the flexure of the tethering arm, in proportion to its swing. This potential energy also serves to return the ball rapidly to its original position, with little or no oscillation. There is thus provided a system in which the benefits of inertia characteristics of a ball are largely preserved, while their objectionable features are eliminated,

A tough plastic, such as nylon, will serve adequately as material for the tether system, the thickness and proportions being about as shown in the drawings, for example, in FIGURE 3, in a typical working embodiment, but in general being adapted for repeated flexure under hard blows with minimum amplitude of swing, or flexure. Generally speaking, in the arrangement of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the hose clamp may be tightened sufficiently to hold the strap loop 32 frictionally against rotation on the standard, but if so desired, the friction surfaces may be roughened to increase the friction therebetween, or a positive anti-rotation means, such as a pin extending through the clamped members, may be provided.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 to 8, another form of the present invention is designated generally at the device 10' employing a standard wherein the lower section 18 has a substantially smooth external surface and the upper section 20 is formed with external threads extending for its full length. A suitable cap 26 is threadedly engaged on the top end of the upper section 20' in the arrangement illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 7.

The tether arm 30 and its associated elements are similar in construction to the corresponding members illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3, being provided with the hemispherical simulated ball member 28 and the thickened loop portion 32 which is engaged around an internally threaded sleeve 50 which is threadedly engaged on the threaded upper standard section 20' in the arrangement illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 7 and which is clamped to said sleeve 50 by the hose clamp 34 which passes through the slot 36 provided at the inner portion of the arm 30. The strap 34 is provided with the end lugs 43, 43, through which extends clamping bolt 41 provided with a clamping nut 42, whereby the degree of clamping force exerted by the strap 34 may be adjusted. In the arrangement of FIGURES 4 to 7, in effect the loop 32 is in threaded engagement with the upper standard section 26'. Thus, when the batter strikes the simulated ball 28 with the bat with substantial force, the arm 30 is caused to revolve around the upper standard section 20' and may rotate several times depending upon the force of impact. This causes the arm 30 to change its height along the upper standard section 20', so that the simulated ball 28 will be in a different position for the next practice swing by the batter. The upper standard section 20' may be arranged so that the rotation of the arm 30 in a clockwise direction, as would be caused by the simulated ball being struck by the bat 40, results in the lowering of arm 30. Under impact, the simulated baseball revolves in a clockwise direction for right hand hitters and in a counterclockwise direction l'or left hand hitters.

Once the practice device is installed in the ground, the position of the hitter is fixed relative to the device. By loosening the strap 34 and. inverting the arm 30, the device may be reversed so that it can be used by a left handed hitter; the same thing can be accomplished by running the sleeve completely off the threaded section 20, inverting the sleeve, and rethreading it on section 20'.

For a right hand hitter the simulated ball 28 revolves clockwise and downward and for a left hand hitter it revolves counterclockwise and upward. Each impact slightly changes the height position of the baseball target.

The modified form of the practice device illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 7 may be employed in the same manner as the practice device of FIGURES l, 2 and 3 by mounting the standard section 18 uppermost, as illustrated in FIGURE 8, with the externally threaded section 20 lowermost. With this arrangement, the arm 30 is clampingly secured to the smooth upper section 18 so that it performs substantially in the same manner as in the case of the device illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. Thus, the clamping nut 42 may be tightened sufliciently so that band 34 rigidly secures the thickened loop portion 32 to the upper standard section 18, making it impossible for the arm 30 to rotate responsive to impact applied to the simulated ball 28.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a further modification wherein a sleeve or collar 6!], having no threads, is rotatably supported on the smooth standard section 20 by a collar 61 adjust-ably secured on section 20 by means of a set screw 62 provided on collar 61. The arm 30 can be adjusted to any height along the length of the smooth pipe section 20 by loosening the set screw 62, raising or lowering the position of collar 61, and retightening the set screw. Once a position is set, the simulated baseball 28 is rotatably supported at a constant height and revolves at this height under impact. This allows a hitter to practice one height as long as he wishes without resetting.

While the practice devices described above constitute means for practicing the batting of a baseball, the practice devices are likewise suitable for other sports, such as golf. By using a simulated ball 28 of golf size and by lowering the supporting sleeve to which it is attached to a position on the standard adjacent the base tubular boss 24, the apparatus can be used as a golf practice driving device.

While certain specific embodiments of baseball batting practice devices have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A batting practice device comprising a plate adapted to rest upon a ground surface, spikes depending from the underface of said plate and penetrating the ground when the plate rests upon the ground surface to thereby fixedly-attach said plate to said ground surface, a threaded boss rising from the mid-part of the upper face of said plate, a standard rising from said plate and having the portion adjacent the lower end in threaded-engagement with said boss, a cap on the upper end of said standard, a flexible arm having an outer end provided with a simulated ball and having an inner end provided with a loop, said arm being horizontally-disposed at a location below said cap and having the loop surrounding-receiving the adjacent part of said standard, a clamp encompassing said loop and supported on said loop, and releasablefastening means fixedly securing said clamp about said loop to thereby attach said loop to said standard.

2. A batting practice device comprising a plate adapted to rest upon a ground surface, spikes depending from the underface of said plate and pcnctrating the ground when the plate rests upon the ground surface to thereby fixedly attach said plate to said ground surface, a threaded boss rising from the mid-part of the upper face of said plate, a standard rising from said plate and having the portion adjacent the lower end in threaded engagement with said boss, a cap on the upper end of said standard, an arm having an outer end provided with a simulated ball and having an inner end provided with a loop, said arm being horizontally disposed at a location below said cap and having the loop surroundingly-receiving a sleeve rotatably disposed about said standard, a clamp encompassing said loop and supported on said loop, and releasable fastening means securing said clamp about said loop with sufficient tightness to prevent rotation of the loop about the sleeve.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,911,221 11/1959 Butler 273-198 X 3,107,094 10/1963 Kfou 27395 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,164,386 1/1965 Fink 273-200 X 9/1930 Byrne 273200 X 10/1938 Long 273 102.1 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1938 Wood 273-95 25,233 1907 Great Britain. 2/ 1942 Beeson et a1. 273-29 395,099 7/ 1933 Great Britain.

12/1954 Haines 27395 X 12 1957 Ponza 273 2 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

5/1959 Melin 237--200 10 G. L. PRICE, Assisrant Examiner. 

1. A BATTING PRACTICE DEVICE COMPRISISNG A PLATE ADAPTED TO REST UPON A GROUND SURFACE, SPIKES DEPENDING FROM THE UNDERFACE OF SAID PLATE AND PENDTRATING THE GROUND WHEN THE PLATE RESTS UPON THE GROUND SURFAC TO THEREBY FIXEDLY-ATTACH SAID PLATE TO SAID GROUND SURFACE, A THREADED BOSS RISING FROM THE MID-PART OF TH UPPER FACE OF SAID PLATE, A STANDARD RISING FROM SAID PLATE AND HAVING THE PORTION ADJACENT THE LOWER END IN THREADED- ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BOSS, A CAP ON THE UPPER END OF SAID STANDARD, A FLEXIBLE ARM HAVING AN OUTER END PROVIDED WITH A SIMULATED BALL AND HAVING AN INNR END PROVIDED WITH A LOOP, SAID ARM BEING HORIZONTALLY-DISPOSED AT A LOCATION BELOW SAID CAP AND HAVING THE LOOP SURROUNDING-RECEIVING THE ADJACENT PART OF SAID STANDARD, A CLAMP ENCOMPASSING 